Since he “retired” at age 48 nearly a decade ago, Madden has cashed $770,156 in New Jersey retirement checks. Among the 15 legislators who draw state pensions, no one pockets more than the senator from the state’s 4th Legislative District, which includes parts of Gloucester and Camden counties. (See chart below.)

It may madden taxpayers, but double-dipping practices by public officials generally are legal under state law.

“There are those who have an issue with people retiring from one organization and going to work someplace else,” Madden told New Jersey Watchdog. “Obviously I don’t have a problem with people doing it. I’ve accepted that in my own personal life. I don’t have a problem with it at all.”

How did Madden retire with a fat pension at 48? Other public employees in New Jersey typically must wait until 60 or older to retire with full benefits. Under federal Social Security, the full retirement age is 66.

The answer is simple: “Special Retirement.” It is a rule that only applies to law enforcement officials in the Police & Firemen’s Retirement System (PFRS) or State Police Retirement System (SPRS). The special retirement provision allows officers to retire at any age after 25 years of service, without reduced benefits.

“It’s basically a young person’s job,” said Madden. “The system is set up for them to retire early to keep the forces young. We have mandatory retirement at 55.”

Two months before he turned 21, Madden was hired as a $9,088-a-year state trooper who would climb up the organizational chart. He could have retired at 45 with full benefits, but Madden maximized his nest egg by staying for four more raises, three more birthdays and two big promotions to lieutenant colonel and deputy superintendent. Then he retired June 30, 2002.

“I had reached the top of my career in policing. It was in my best interest to move on, so I decided to retire,” Madden said.

Four months after his 48th birthday, Madden began receiving a SPRS pension for life. It will pay him more than $2.5 million, if he lives until age 80 — the average life expectancy for a 57-year-old white male in the United States, according to federal statistics.

“I’ve earned that,” said Madden. “I paid into that system like every other trooper. You can make it sound like I’m getting something I don’t deserve, and that’s wrong.”

Madden’s pension is based on 27 years of service and a final salary of $112,451 a year. Previous years of lower pay and smaller retirement fund contributions are not part of the calculation. Under the statutory formula, his pension pay is 67 percent of his final salary, plus cost-of-living increases.

The senator noted the State Police does not participate in Social Security. Employees do not contribute to the federal program and typically do not qualify for its retirement benefits.

One-Day Retiree

The first thing Madden did after he retired was return to the government payroll in a law enforcement job.

“There are a lot of positives to taking retirees that have strong resumes and productive work experience and placing them in other public jobs,” said Madden.

One state rule is supposed to prevent workers from temporarily retiring from public employment to take advantage of pension funds. A retirement only is considered to be legitimate, or “bona fide,” if “there is a good faith action to retire” and “there has been a cessation of employment of at least 30 days,” according to SPRS and PFRS handbooks.

If a retirement is not “bona fide,” the state can force the employee to return any benefits paid.

“I was thinking, ‘If they can do this job…’” Madden chuckled. “I think I bring morals and ethics and truthfulness to the seat. I had been policing my entire life, and I wanted to try something different.”

In a close election decided by recount, Madden beat Republican incumbent George Geist by 63 votes. One of the victor’s spoils was the $49,000 annual pay received by legislators.

“I have no problem balancing them,” said Madden, referring to his two jobs. He said he has flexible hours at his 35-hour-week college position and takes vacation time to attend Senate sessions when necessary.

He contends that state taxpayers benefit because he can hold two public positions in New Jersey concurrently.

“If I go across the bridge to Temple University (to work in Pennsylvania), those people get the benefit of my training and the college degrees that the people of New Jersey have invested in,” he said.

Bottom line: Madden rakes in $241,255 a year from a state pension plus two public salaries. He said he is not earning additional pensions from the college or Legislature.

15 NJ Legislators Collect State Pensions

New Jersey Watchdog found 15 current legislators — six senators and nine Assembly members — who receive state retirement checks in addition to legislative salaries, according to public records. The nine Democrats and six Republicans receive an average of $43,000 in annual pension pay.

Not coincidentally, those who get the biggest checks are retirees of PFRS or SPRS. State pension formulas and regulations favor law enforcement officials over other public employees.

For example, if Madden had retired as a member of the Public Employees Retirement System (PERS) at the same age, salary history and years of service, his pension would have been cut in half.

Of the 15 lawmakers who receive state pensions plus legislative salaries, three are on the payrolls of other public agencies in New Jersey. In addition to Madden:

New Jersey Watchdog’s research focused on current state legislators who draw retirement pay from state pension funds. Data are from pension, payroll and personnel records obtained from the New Jersey Department of Treasury, Civil Service Commission and local governmental bodies through state’s Open Public Records Act requests. Pension amounts and employment status are current as of December 2011.

6 Comments on “MEET THE BIGGEST ‘TRIPLE-DIPPER’ IN THE NEW JERSEY STATEHOUSE: SEN. FRED MADDEN POCKETS $241,000 A YEAR IN PAY & PENSION”

I don’t have a problem with someone who retires from one public job with a pension and than takes another public job. If you want to change the rules, that’s fine but right now they are playing by the rules they were given when they became public employees.

What I do have a problem with is when people are taking two or even three public employment salaries at the same time especially when one of them would appear to be a full time job.

Yes, they are playing by the rules but the rules are terribly irresponsible, liberal, grossly distorted and destined to bankrupt us. This is disgusting. Retire as a trooper at 48 ?? That’s a joke. When is someone going to help us taxpayers? This is corrupt politics. We taxpayers are being abused (treaded on). The Bankrupt state of NJ needs Christie for another term.

This man, or anyone should NOT be collecting ANY retirement until he is actually retired.
Abusive, selfish, greedy and others are words that come to mind. The man should be ashamed.
In the meantime, fix the GOD-DAM system.

What is blatant here is that Mr. Madden was rapidly promoted at the end of his career in order to bump his pension amount. If he really respected his promotions and what he offered those beneath him as a leader he would have STAYED in the position long enough to impact others, not just his own pocketbook.

This goes on everywhere at all levels. Neptune Township leaders are contriving a plan now that would make any knowledgeable taxpayer scream. Musical chairs with admins and with salaried Board members like nothing I’ve ever witnessed. Double dipping Michael Bascom leads the way.

I heard Bascom is running Neptune and collecting salaries and pensions. The politicians are ALL about themselves and working the pension system. Bascom is just another case of focusing on his pension credits over there in Neptune Twp.

I wish I knew, OTD. The people in power on both sides of the fence are afraid to say anything. He runs Neptune as its CFO, he runs Sea Bright as their CFO, and he’s head of OEM of multiple places. He’s a brilliant person but he wears waaaaaay too many hats.